Rondo's superstitious dribble at the beginning of games

[GreenNote]

Have any of you noticed how Rondo goes for one very high dribble in which he lets the ball go above his head, at the beginning of games when the Celtics win the tip? I think it just shows how superstitious he is (along with the carmex in the socks and upside down headband).

I have been looking for footage but just go on any archived game and check out the first few seconds.

I love the way he always does it!

[Redz]

rondo being rondo

[RAcker]

I love that he throws it up in the air underhanded half the time and then begins to dribble it which is blatantly traveling by the rules.   

[GreenNote]

Definitely more exciting than LeBron's pregame talc blowing

[ScoobyDoo]

TP for noting it. Have noticed it and also love it. It's an "it's on" Rondoism. Only thing I like better are his around the back fake outs and also his new around the back pass to himself ON THE FLY, which is completely original, AND sick.

[Atzar]

Yeah.  I'm not sure it's really a superstitious thing (although he is very superstitious from what I've read).  I think it's just a way of saying "let's do this".

Still, TP - I noticed it myself.

[Drucci]

Definitely a typical Rondo play, and a travel I guess according to the rules! Same goes when he lets the ball roll all along the court for a lot of seconds, which should be a 5 second violation according to the rules, I think.

But I like this "Rondo signature play" at the start of the games, it has become something that you expect to see game in and game out.

(And I actually used it as an intro for my Rondo highlights mix http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-xKDLBNHiY&feature=player_embedded)

[Kiorrik]

Yeah.  I'm not sure it's really a superstitious thing (although he is very superstitious from what I've read).  I think it's just a way of saying "let's do this".

Still, TP - I noticed it myself.

I have been doing the same thing for a couple of years. I throw up the ball and flex my shoulder, neck and back muscles (I have upper back issues) and "set" myself into "basketball mode".

It *is* second dribble, but I've never ever been called on it. Not by the refs anyway

So yeh, I gotta say that to me, it's pretty much the same thing; "Let's do this!"

Btw, this made me notice that I kind of started loving being the starting point guard on our first team, more so than I thought I did. Used to hate the position due to all the critique you get. Believe me, it's the toughest position to fill on a team that has a lot of egos.

[muddy02]

Same goes when he lets the ball roll all along the court for a lot of seconds, which should be a 5 second violation according to the rules, I think.

TP for that, i never really thought about that, but i think technically you may be right.  The ball isn't considered inbounded unless it's touched, but typically when the inbounder lets go of the ball, the ref stops his 5 count.  Loophole?

[Kiorrik]

Same goes when he lets the ball roll all along the court for a lot of seconds, which should be a 5 second violation according to the rules, I think.

TP for that, i never really thought about that, but i think technically you may be right.  The ball isn't considered inbounded unless it's touched, but typically when the inbounder lets go of the ball, the ref stops his 5 count.  Loophole?

Bloody hell. Nice one

[Redz]

Same goes when he lets the ball roll all along the court for a lot of seconds, which should be a 5 second violation according to the rules, I think.

TP for that, i never really thought about that, but i think technically you may be right.  The ball isn't considered inbounded unless it's touched, but typically when the inbounder lets go of the ball, the ref stops his 5 count.  Loophole?

Bloody hell. Nice one

I believe the ball is inbounds once it crosses the plain of the out of bounds line. 

[Kiorrik]

Same goes when he lets the ball roll all along the court for a lot of seconds, which should be a 5 second violation according to the rules, I think.

TP for that, i never really thought about that, but i think technically you may be right.  The ball isn't considered inbounded unless it's touched, but typically when the inbounder lets go of the ball, the ref stops his 5 count.  Loophole?

Bloody hell. Nice one

I believe the ball is inbounds once it crosses the plain of the out of bounds line. 

But is it still a dead ball?

[libermaniac]

TP for noting it. Have noticed it and also love it. It's an "it's on" Rondoism. Only thing I like better are his around the back fake outs and also his new around the back pass to himself ON THE FLY, which is completely original, AND sick.

And a complete violation of the rules.  There is no way you can change the course of the ball like that without palming it. I have always HATED refs letting players get away with that.

[dark_lord]

Same goes when he lets the ball roll all along the court for a lot of seconds, which should be a 5 second violation according to the rules, I think.

TP for that, i never really thought about that, but i think technically you may be right.  The ball isn't considered inbounded unless it's touched, but typically when the inbounder lets go of the ball, the ref stops his 5 count.  Loophole?

Bloody hell. Nice one

I believe the ball is inbounds once it crosses the plain of the out of bounds line.  

But is it still a dead ball?

fyi....5 seconds can only be called if in the hands of the inbounder. once it leaves their hand, 5 sec violation can not be called, regardless if a player has touched the ball in play or not.

[GreenNote]

TP for the video Drucci!